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Homelessness continues to rise
07/07/2016

DCLG has published the latest figures on homelessness in England for
the Quarter period, January to March 2016. The number of households
accepted as homeless and the number of households living in
temporary accommodation have increased compared to the same quarter
last year.

The total number of households accepted as homeless were 14,780
- up by 2% over the previous quarter figure and 9% on the figure of
13,520 for the same quarter last year.

The total number of households living in temporary accommodation
awaiting the offer of settled accommodation was 71,540 - up by 11%
on the same quarter in 2015. It's a massive increase of nearly 50%
on the number of households living in temporary accommodation
(48,010) at 31 December 2010.

Local authorities took action to prevent a further 198,100
households becoming homeless during 2015/16.

John Bibby, ARCH Chief Executive, commented:"The number of households living in temporary accommodation
continues to rise. With stock retained councils facing the prospect
of having to sell vacant council housing to fund payments to the
government under the Housing and Planning Act to reimburse housing
associations for Right to Buy discounts, the concern is that the
number of households living in temporary accommodation (and the
cost to the council general fund and council tax payer) will
continue to rise.

The rise of nearly 50% since 2010 in the numbers of
households living in temporary accommodation is extremely
concerning. While the government continues to focus its priorities
on expanding home ownership, the outlook for those unfortunate
households facing the loss of their home through no fault of their
own remains grim with the prospect of ever greater numbers living
in often unsuitable temporary accommodation."

Our submission to the CLG Select Committee inquiry into
homelessness argues that any homes councils may be forced to sell
should be replaced on a one for one basis and homes for rent should
take priority in any replacement programme so that there is no long
term overall loss of social rented housing available to homeless
households living in temporary accommodation and others on council
housing waiting lists.